‘Autism and Everyday Executive Function’

For a thorough explanation of executive function as developed by people with autism, I recommend Autism and Everyday Executive Function by Paula Moraine (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, November 2015).

Moraine recommends identifying an individual’s particular strengths (described as “Autistic Access Points”) and applying them to “unlock” or support the development of executive function in a child on the autism spectrum.

With comprehensive detail, Moraine describes the “languages” with which people communicate, the “ingredients or tools” that can especially assist children with autism, and the eight skills of executive control.

Commingled books, the Dewey way

In an online group, someone posted a link to an essay by Alexander Chee, which discusses combining — or not combining — bookshelves as part of living as a family. I used the Dewey Decimal subject classification system to combine and organize our books. As a result, many of the issues about commingling books — of one partner’s books isolated in a “cell” or books given greater or lesser prominence — are not really an issue when their order is determined by a numerical system.

Grateful for libraries, today and every day

Library cards from nearly everywhere I have lived or worked

I have my advocate’s hat on today, to talk about my gratitude to libraries (continuing with a seasonal focus on things I am thankful for).

Thanksgiving blessings: Work in tough economy

Thanksgiving offers a time each year to take stock of our blessings, and I make a regular practice of listing things I am thankful for. To begin with, I feel blessed by the work I do in southern Oregon’s extremely tough economy.

‘Camp Midnight’ by Steven T. Seagle

Within minutes after Skye’s mother leaves her with her father and step-mother for the summer, the adults spring their plans for Skye — they’re sending her to camp.

Only problem (from the adults’ perspective, that is), they don’t remember the name of the camp but they think the name started with “M.” On the basis of that hastily-remembered detail, Skye finds herself on a bus bound for “Camp Midnight.”

From its eerie first impression and the official beginning-of-camp, Skye quickly discovers that Camp Midnight is like no other summer camp.

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ Nov. 23, 2015

Featured titles in Oregon Battle of the Books captured all 10 slots again this month on the Bellview Elementary School library “Top 10,” representing the most often-checked-out books during the previous 30 days.

Religious Explorations: Recent posts

Here are recent posts to social media in my professional role as Administrative Coordinator for the Religious Explorations program at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I have worked part-time in this capacity since May 2014.

Oregon Blue Book in Bellview library

New in Reference, for use in Bellview library, the Oregon Blue Book almanac and fact book is a great official source for looking up information about Oregon economy and government.

The Oregon Blue Book has been published regularly for more than 100 years, according to an introduction by Kate Brown, secretary of state at the time of publication (sworn in as Oregon’s governor after the Blue Book went to press).

The 2015-2016 edition was donated to Bellview library compliments of the Oregon Secretary of State. Its web version can be visited at http://bluebook.state.or.us/​.

The librarian’s ‘customer service’ hat

What would my ‘customer service’ hat look like?

Among library blogs, 500 Hats by Barbara Braxton is a personal favorite; it expands the perceptions of people who think of librarians only as “keeper of the books.”

Each entry focuses on one of many “hats” worn by the library professional.

Hats are a big part of my image and so in that vein, I offer thoughts on my “customer service” hat. Customer service is a big part of my daily activities in Bellview Elementary School library.

‘Deserving’

The Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where I work part-time, is participating this year in a study and small-group discussion program called “Soul Matters Sharing Circles.” Each month, people work with materials organized around a theme. This month, the theme is “Grace,” a blessing that is unexpected and perhaps even undeserved.

‘Peeple’ app, now ‘100-percent opt-in’

Cartoon image created with Bitstrips

As a survivor of bullying, I reacted with concern when I learned about the “Peeple” app, particularly that people could be added without their consent and subjected to negative ratings.

Blog posts classified with Dewey numbering

This week I’ve been researching Dewey Decimal classifications for the subject tags in my blog. It seemed thematically appropriate, with my emphasis on librarianship, and is a natural progression from organizing my own books in numerical order by subject.